Safely Sharing the Road with Motorcycles

With the weather warming up, motorcycles and bicycles will be out in full force. It’s important that we all look out for each other and share the road. When you and a bike get into an accident, the person on two wheels is almost always injured, sometimes severely or fatally. Don’t let that happen to you as a driver or to them. Here’s how to safely share the road.

Driving Around Motorcycles

Motorcycles tend to make people nervous. They’re smaller than cars and often go a lot faster. Riders zip in and out of traffic, and we’ve all seen the person who cuts between rows of cars to get ahead. It’s dangerous and scary. They’re an accident waiting to happen. When you see a motorcycle on the road with you, do these things to help keep everyone safe:

Keep four seconds of space between you and a motorcycle in front of you. This gives you time to react if they stop abruptly.

Check your blind spots constantly. Because they’re small, they can easily slip into your blind spot. Physically move your head and don’t just rely on your mirrors before you change lanes.

Pay attention when you turn. If you’re turning in a motorcycle’s direction, take your time and be cautious. Make sure they’re not actually going straight through the light or down the road.

Driving Around Bicycles

Near schools, at the park, or in neighborhoods, you’re likely to see a lot of bicycles out on the road. Some areas have bike lanes and some don’t, but the rules to keep everyone safe are the same.

Yield to bike riders. Let them go ahead of you, go through the crosswalk, or make their own turn first.

Stay out of bike lanes. Don’t cut around other cars through the bike lane to make a turn and pay attention to the road so you don’t veer into it accidentally.

Watch out for bikes, especially kids on bikes. Slow down and give them lots of space.

Be cautious and move into the other lane when a bike is on the road whenever possible. If you can’t move over, slow down and swing wide to get around them.

Pay attention when turning. It’s not enough to look for cars. Check the sidewalk, bike lane, or crosswalk and make sure you don’t see anyone on a bicycle.

Getting into an accident can be devastating when it’s you and another vehicle. But when it’s you and someone on two wheels, without the same protection you have in your vehicle, it can be even worse. Be cautious and slow down. You may prevent a serious or fatal accident just by being more careful out on the road.

No matter how careful you are, accidents can still happen. The kinds of injuries sustained when a bicycle or motorcycle gets hit by a four-wheeled vehicle can be astronomical. Make sure your Massachusetts auto insurance covers you no matter what happens out on the road.

Carry more than the minimum liability coverage in case you’re found to be at fault for an accident. Consider increasing your uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in case they’re at fault but don’t have any or enough auto insurance. Contact Ross Insurance to make sure you’ve got the best auto insurance policy for your budget.

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Since 1925, Ross Insurance Agency has been committed to fostering a positive reputation for their agency; striving to emerge as a leading coverage provider, above all other Massachusetts insurance companies.